He summoned up sufficient strength of mind to slip away from the place. His entire being cried aloud: Fly . . . escape with Françoise to the uttermost comers of the earth!
His face was ghastly white when he entered the room in which passes were made out. He was almost sure that the Burglar had not caught sight of him. He waited a moment in order to recover his breath and the use of his voice.
When he went up to the main table at which were seated the clerics whose duty it was to answer inquiries from the public, he saw a man standing before him, holding a number of papers in his hand—a man wearing a long, flowing overcoat who stared him steadily in the face. Didier felt giddy. His mind was giving way.
He never knew how he managed to get outside, or how he found the strength to throw himself into a taxi and to give his address. He had recognized the Joker!
[CHAPTER XX]
A SIGHT OF THE ABYSS
When Didier was in his own home again he saw that Françoise was in a state of great uneasiness.
"Why did you leave the house so early without letting me know?"
"You were asleep and I didn't want to disturb you."
"How pale you are! You are still suffering. You are concealing something from me, Didier. You have received bad news."